Illuminating device



June 1937. 1.. L. STAFFORD ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed June 6, 1936Patented June I, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 6 Claims.

This invention is an illuminating lamp structure.

An object of the invention is to provide a lamp structure which, byreason of its peculiar fabrication, produces a very distinctive lightelfect and at the same time has high attractive utility, either whenlighted or unlighted.

A further object of the invention is to pr vide a lamp structureembodying a columnar wall or shell wherein a plurality of reflective,perforated surfaces are so combined as to produce a large number oflight disseminating crevices circularly disposed about a central sourceof light within the column.

A further object is to provide a lamp structure incorporating a columnand means to illuminate it internally and externally, and including asource of light for direct or general illumination of surfacesextramural of the column.

The invention consists of certain advancements in this art as set forthin the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objectsand advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction,combination and details of means, and method of production, and themanner of operation will be made manifest in the description of theherewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood thatmodifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within thescope, principle and spirit of the invention as it is more directlyclaimed hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of thelamp, on a small scale.

Figure 2 is a plan; omitting a dome part of the lamp. 7

Figure 3 is a horizontal, diagrammatic, crosssection of the column ofthe lamp; its Wall thickness being about full size.

Figure 4 is an end view of one of the blade units of which the column isbuilt. Figure 5 is a face View of one of the blades, and Figure 6 is anedge view thereof.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic, edge view of adjacent, nested, radiallydisposed blades of the column wall.

The lamp includes a column 3 of any desired height and diameter with itslower end fixed in a suitable base 4 which is here shown with a numberof electric light bulbs 5 for casting light upwardly onto the column 3to illuminate it by closing of a switch 5 in a conventional circuit, notshown, for the bulbs.

On the column is arranged a translucent, removable top or dome 6 and ashadow casting grill or other device 1 shadow effect in the light in thecolumn.

This source of light is here shown as a bank of light bulbs i0 ofanydesired color or combination of colors, mounted on a turn-table Ii fixedto a suitably rotated shaft I2 operatively mounted in the column 3.

A source of light, such as bulb i 5, above the dome 6 provides forgeneral illumination about 10 the lamp; the bulb being in a simplecircuit having a switch l5 A further feature of the invention resides;in the structure of the column 3. This'is formed of a number ofstrip-like blades 29 arranged with their length vertically and theirwidth radially of the column. The blades are of thi corrugated materialsuch as sheet metal and are shown at about full size in Figs. 3-6,inclusive, though the size'may be varied as desired. The corrugationslie diagonal to the length of the strip or blade 2|] and the outer orface ridges Z! of the corrugations are longitudinally slotted at 22 andalong edges of the slots extend lips 23 formed by outbending the 25material when the slots are formed in the material, no claim being madeto the blade device itself apart from the column structure heredisclosed.

In building the column the blades 20 are laid close together asindicated in Figs. 3 and '7. and formed into a circle of desireddiameter; all of the blades facing one way and closely nested so thattheir outer edges will each present a serpentine outline, each spacedslightly apart around the column. As the blades are nested they take arelative position, one on the other, such that the corrugations showingalong the edges of the blades give a helical line appearance to theexterior of the column, as is indicated in Fig. 1. The blades aresufiiciently still so as not to be crushed when they are firmly nestedand secured.

The blades may be made reflective in any desired manner, as by polishingor by suitable coating and it will be seen that when the light bulbs iiiare energized, under control of their circuit switch lil the generatedwaves of light therefrom will either pass directly through the multitudeof interstices Z5 radially between the nested blades 20 or will bereflected therethrough after impinging the surfaces of the blades.

It is understood that divers internal and external lighting arrangementsand effects may be serves to produce a dome from a source ofincorporated within the broad concept of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminating lamp structure including a column comprising a wallformed of a plurality of thin, firm, corrugated, strip-like bladesnested one against the other in fixed relation and providing intersticesthrough the wall, and a source of light arranged in the column and fromwhich light passes outward through the interstices either directly or byreflection from the blade surfaces.

2. A column consisting of a plurality of thin, firm, corrugated,strip-like blades nested one on the other around the column; said bladesbeing arranged with their length vertically and. their width radially ina circle around the column and presenting exterior, serpentine edgesalong the column, and forming outwardly open ing interstices from theinterior of the column.

3. A column as set forth in claim 2, and in which the blades haveperforations from face to face and in communication with the contiguousinterstices.

4. A column as set forth in claim 2, and in which the corrugations areoblique to the length of the blades.

5. A column as set forth in claim 2, and wherein the said edges presenta helical appearance around the column.

6. A column as set forth in claim 2, and in which there is a source oflight arranged in the column for diffusion of light through theinterstices.

